7. Thurgood Marshall

Mr. Marshall became the first African-American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. He not only worked his way to the pinnacle of the U.S. legal system but did so during the tumultuous times of the civil rights movement. When the U.S. was still struggling to understand what equality meant between whites and blacks, it took some history-setting steps by individuals to pave the way. Mr. Marshall did just that and continued to serve on the court for the next 24 years, taking part in memorable cases that today define U.S. civil rights and criminal procedure.